Mass protests
All Updates
Cases selected for updating the Case-Law Guide.
Bogay and Others v. Ukraine, no. 38283/18
Police inspection of the applicants’ belongings leading to the retrieval of several dangerous objects during a demonstration aimed at protesting the use of animals in circus acts, followed by the applicants’ detention for two to three hours at a police station.
Judgment
Harutyunyan and Others v. Armenia (dec.), no. 45401/15
The police’s disruption of a protest march, where several applicants were armed with batons and explosives to create panic and disorient the police and ensuing criminal convictions of the applicants.
Decision
Vyacheslavova and Others v. Ukraine, nos. 39553/16 and 6 others
Mass disorder among protesters and counter-protesters in Odesa in May 2014, leading to loss of life and injuries in a fire in the Trade Union Building.
Judgment
Fraisse and Others v. France, nos. 22525/21 and 47626/21
Death of a student as a result of the explosion of a stun grenade launched by a gendarme in the context of a law-enforcement operation during violent clashes between protesters opposed to the construction of a dam and mobile gendarmes forces.
Judgment
Ishkhanyan v. Armenia, no. 5297/16
Mass arrests without individualised assessment after the dispersal of a sit-in demonstration blocking a main public road.
Judgment
Bodson and Others v. Belgium, nos. 35834/22 and 15 others
Applicants’ criminal conviction for blocking a motorway as part of a strike.
Judgment
Eckert v. France, no. 56270/21
Applicant convicted and fined for participating in a demonstration (‘gilets jaunes’) despite an express prohibition of demonstrations in specific places and at a specific time.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Central Unitaria de Traballadores/as v. Spain, no. 49363/20
Ban on a demonstration organised by the applicant trade union for 1 May 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the participants’ readiness to demonstrate in a convoy of cars and wearing masks and gloves.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Geylani and Others v. Türkiye, no. 10443/12
Use of a water cannon by the police to disperse a peaceful demonstration resulting in injury to one of the applicants from being hit by pressurised water.
Judgment
Çiçek and Others v. Türkiye, nos. 48694/10 and 4 others
Conviction and prison sentencing for taking part in demonstrations with clashes. Applicability and merits.
Judgment
Makarashvili v. Georgia, nos. 23158/20 and 2 Others
Arrest and sanctioning for refusal to free road leading to Parliament entrances. Applicability and merits.
Judgment
Bumbeș v. Romania, no. 18079/15
Activist fined for a short and peaceful gathering, without prior notice, after handcuffing, with three other persons, to a government barrier in protest against a mining project.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Ekrem Can and Others v. Turkey, no. 10613/10
Prison sentence for involvement in non-violent, albeit disruptive, protest inside a courthouse.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Manannikov v. Russia, no. 9157/08
Fine on counter-demonstrator for displaying, amid the crowd of his opponents, provocative banner despite police order.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Dareskizb Ltd. v. Armenia, no. 61737/08
Massive post-election protests and state of emergency.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Shmorgunov and Others v. Ukraine, nos. 15367/14 and 13 others
Deliberate strategy to stop initially peaceful protest through excessive force resulting in escalation of violence and multiple abuses by non-State agents hired by police. Applicability and merits.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Berkman v. Russia, no. 46712/15
Police handling of counter-demonstrators during LGBTI event.
Judgment | Legal Summary
İmrek v. Turkey, no. 45975/12
Imputability of acts of demonstrators to organisers.
Judgment
Navalnyy and Gunko v. Russia, no. 75186/12
Arrest and conviction for administrative offences during a rally.
Judgment
Zakharov and Varzhabetyan v. Russia, nos. 35880/14 and 75926/17
Police brutality against peaceful participants of a political rally.
Judgment | Legal Summary
Laguna Guzman v. Spain, no. 41462/17
Protestor injured during forceful police dispersal of informal gathering after demonstration.
Judgment
Hakim Aydın v. Turkey, no. 4048/09
Unlawful detention following a number of peaceful public events in a campaign for the use of mother tongue in education.
Judgment
Kemal Çetin v. Turkey, no. 3704/13
Criminal conviction of the organiser of a demonstration for the actions of certain participants.
Judgment